The second week of the 2018 Legislative Session has started and business is in full swing. This week I will hold House Finance Budget Subcommittee hearings for the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs.

I hope you enjoyed a safe holiday season and a great start to the new year! With the Second Regular Session beginning on January 16, I’m hopeful the House and Senate can come together to create a complete fiscal plan for Alaska that protects PFDs and protects important public services.

Late last night, my colleagues and I in the Alaska State House passed SB 54 after 3 days of amendments, 13 hours of public testimony and six days of work in Finance Committee. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Coghill, now returns to the Alaska State Senate to agree on the changes.

Earlier this month, as Chair of the Departments of Public Safety and Corrections budgets for the House Finance Committee, I held hearings to provide the public and legislators the opportunity to learn more about the impact of budget cuts since 2014 on law enforcement and incarceration. My colleague Rep. Jason Grennalso held hearings on the Public Defenders Agency in the Dept of Administration and the Dept of Law for state prosecutors. You can find all presentation materials online here.